Summer Lifeguard Season Ends Early at Luther Burbank Beach

The City asks Islanders to take notice that Friday, August 26 (until 6:00pm) will be the last day lifeguards will be on duty at the popular Beach at Luther Burbank Park. Lifeguards had been

Lifeguard on Duty at Luther Burbank Beach

scheduled through Saturday, August 27, but an unexpected change in staffing has required this change to the schedule.

Parks and Recreation staff agrees that Luther Burbank Beach saw increased use this summer. Many Islanders and numerous off-Island camps flocked to the beach to take advantage of the long-awaited summer weather. In addition, reductions to the 2011 City budget that resulted in Groveland Beach not being staffed by lifeguards contributed to more swimmers heading to Luther Burbank Park.  

"Many families, groups, and summer camps came to Luther Burbank to take advantage of the safety provided by summer lifeguards," says Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Diane Mortenson.

Questions regarding lifeguard schedules can be directed to the Mercer Island Community and Event Center at 206.275.7609.

Last Free Outdoor Shows of the Year at Mercerdale Park

Sunday, August 28, 5:30pm 

Mostly Music in the Park (Rescheduled) Concert: "Swamp Soul" 

Swamp Soul performs Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco dance music outdoors at Mercerdale Park. Click here for a sample of their

Swamp Soul Band

energetic and fun musical style (sample). This concert, originally scheduled for July 17, has been rescheduled for August 28 due to a previous rain-out. Note the concert begins at 5:30pm, instead of 7:00pm, due to fewer daylight hours.

For additional information, contact the Mercer Island Community and Events Center at 206.275.7609. 

Green Ribbon Commission Honors Mercer Island Rotarians

City Staff Next to Take Up Carbon Challenge 

On April 19, members of the Rotary Club of Mercer Island accepted a 12 week challenge from the Mercer Island Green Ribbon Commission to take on the "22 Ways: It's Easy Being Green!" plan to reduce their carbon footprint and save energy. 72 Rotarians stepped up to meet the challenge to make better choices for the environment and were duly honored in a July ceremony. 

The challenge involved making changes both at home and on the go to by implementing some of the "22 Ways" to reduce carbon emissions such as carpooling, working from home, replacing incandescent bulbs, eliminating an old appliance, or using a programmable thermostat.

Rotarian Receives Green Ribbon Honor

On July 26, members of the Commission honored the Club President (David Bobanick), and Planet Earth co-chairs (Lowell Ericsson and George Chambers), with 22 Ways T-shirts, a framed completion certificate, and reported on their impressive results.

The 72 Rotarians who participated in the challenge represent 47% of the club who collectively took 685 steps to reduce their environmental impact. The top 6 items completed during the challenge are listed below:

• Walk instead of drive
• Make car trips more efficient
• Eliminate a car trip
• Use a programmable thermostat
• Replace 5 or more incandescent bulbs
• Do laundry more efficiently

"I enjoyed learning about the various tips for 'on the go' and 'at home.' The most exciting accomplishment was test driving a higher MPG vehicle. I was amazed to see the real time gas mileage register 50+," said Claudina Campbell, Mercer Island Rotary Member.

City Staff Next to Take On 22 Ways Challenge

The Rotary club was the fourth major Island organization to take the challenge, following the Mercer Island School Board, Mercer Island City Council, and the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. In September, City of Mercer Island employees will join the challenge, with their results announced in November.

"It's great that city employees are taking on this challenge. It shows the broader community that with a little bit of effort, we can make real progress on energy savings, and city employees can take what they've learned home to their families and neighbors in their own community. That's how real change occurs," says Mercer Island City Manager, Rich Conrad.    

The Green Ribbon Commission is a partnership between the city and its citizens to promote easy steps we can all take to live well without having a big negative impact on our environment.

For additional information or to get involved, follow the link here to the City website or contact Kirsten Taylor at kirsten.taylor@mercergov.org or 206.275.7720.

Clean Stormwater Runoff Protects Island Lakes and Streams

The City is calling on all Islanders to help protect our lakes and streams by preventing illicit discharge from entering our stormwater system. "Illicit discharge" is defined in the Mercer Island City Code (MICC 15.09.040) as "any discharge to the City's storm and surface water system that is not composed entirely of stormwater." Illicit discharge is a significant source of water pollution and can include such substances as pet waste, oil, paint, fertilizers, and soap. The City asks residents to take action by disposing of waste and liquids properly and reporting illicit discharges when they see it happen.

The City recommends citizens take several steps to reduce the chance of illicit discharge. Residents can safely dispose of motor oil, cleaners, and paint at designated disposal facilities . When considering landscape care, reduce the amount of pesticides and fertilizers used, and sweep all grass clippings, soil, and fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways. Be sure to dispose of pet waste in the trash. Lastly, avoid pressure washing or washing vehicles in such a manner that soiled water is allowed to flow into the storm drain. Instead, use buckets, and drain the soiled water into landscaped areas.

Keeping stormwater free from environmental toxins is critical because it is not treated before it directly enters our natural water systems and the wildlife habitat they support. Follow these links for more information about natural yard care and car washing and pet waste management. To download a convenient illicit discharge flier, click here. 

To report an illicit discharge, call the City's Illicit Discharge Hotline at 206.275.7608 (after hours: 425.577.5656). 

"Chip Seal" Extends Street Life While Saving Cost

The City has identified a new process called "chip sealing" that promises to preserve and improve the Island's residential streets. With an eye towards capital budget saving, chip sealing was identified for this pilot program due to its durability and low cost. Technically referred to as a bituminous surface treatment, chip sealing can add between 7 to 15 years to the life of an asphalt pavement and do so for a fraction of the cost of the typical repair method using hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay. The chip sealing pilot project will take place on selected residential streets beginning the week of August 22 and extend through early September. The map below indicated the location of chip seal project sites:

Street selection for the pilot project was based on several factors, including the street's physical condition, age, and number of years until a HMA overlay is due. The project includes the following two steps:

1. Chip Sealing:  Applying liquid asphalt and then embedding a layer of fine rock chips with rollers and allowing it to set up overnight. Sweeping will follow to collect loose rock. The process is repeated to double the strength and integrity of the seal.
2. Fog Sealing:  After chip sealing, the street surface is sprayed with a diluted asphalt emulsion to improve rock chip adhesion to the road and to give a uniform black appearance. Final sweeps over the following weeks collect any remaining loose rocks.

The chip seal process will take a total of two to three days to perform, but the process may be spread over two weeks to allow for the drying and sweeping cycles. While work is underway, all roadways will need to be clear of vehicles. "No Parking" signs will be posted in advance.  

Generally, there will only be minimal delays impacting access to streets and driveways, however, some short duration closures may be necessary. The City will make every effort to minimize the impact on travel and driveway access during this process and asks motorists to please watch for flaggers and follow their directions.

In addition, the City asks residents to avoid driving or walking on freshly applied asphalt, as it can easily track onto driveways and into homes.  

For additional information, contact Street Engineer, Clint Morris at clint.morris@mercergov.org or by phone at 206.275.7807.